Our recent hat deliveries preview the big one on Dec. 7

MyCentralJersey.com has been busy helping our local community through our Courier News Wish Book, Home News Tribune Needy Cases and coat drive. Thank you for all of your support!

Jenna Intersimone, @JIntersimone

Last week, I had the privilege of bringing about 80 of your hats, along with dozens of scarves, to the Elijah's Promise Community Kitchen, and 50 hats plus dozens of scarves to the Franklin Township Food Bank in Somerset County. I also dropped off more hats and scarves at Stony Brook Elementary School in North Plainfield.

The photos I took at the Franklin Food Bank and Stony Brook School show the joy that the staff expressed at your gifts. I didn't have an opportunity to photograph any recipients who will be wearing your hats, scarves and mittens as the winter progresses, but I hope these staff photos will help you appreciate just how much your work is cherished.

Principal Cathy Kobylarlz o f Stony Brook Elementary School in North Plainfield hangs Fun Fur scarves as garlands on the school's mitten tree for students in need.

Pamela MacKenzie/staff photo

We got a few scarves knitted in Fun Fur yarn from — I think — one of the church groups. I gave all of them to Stony Brook School for their mitten tree, and their principal, Cathy Kobylarz, said they'd all be snapped up by delighted children by the end of that school day. She draped them around their mitten tree like garlands.

Luca Giovannetti, Selena Campopiano and Ellen Zimmerman display some of the 50 hats and additional ...more

Luca Giovannetti, Selena Campopiano and Ellen Zimmerman display some of the 50 hats and additional scarves that you made for their clients this winter.

Since my last column, we have had a steady stream of hat donations. I'm giving most of these recent arrivals to the North Jersey United Way, United Way of Central Jersey, United Way of Hunterdon County and the other agencies we're giving your more than 300 donated coats to. I am thrilled that we have so many hats to give with the coats. I haven't counted them, but trust me when I say we have bags and bags full. Sarah Burke brought two 50-gallon black plastic bags of crocheted and loom-knitted hats with matching scarves rolled up inside. Melissa Herzog mailed a carton. We have dozens from Barbara Antoniello. Others have brought a bag or two. It's really heartwarming.

After the coat delivery on Friday, I'll still be collecting and distributing winter hats and other accessories through December. Please don't wait till January to bring me your hats. Every year, we have had hats come in late, and it's really important that we not do that this winter.

Knitting/crocheting at Bridgewater Library

If you're reading this in print, I'll be at the Bridgewater Library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight for the In Stitches open knitting and crochet session. You can bring me any winter accessories there, too. We meet at the big table in the periodicals stacks on the east side of the building. We have plenty of free knitting needles and donated yarn for people who want them. I'm also going to bring some free (vintage) crochet and knitting magazines to give away.

Dolls for foster girls

In the last couple of weeks, we've received two African American 18-inch dolls and two Barbie-sized dolls for little girls in the Court-Appointed Special Advocates of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties (CASA SHAW) system. We also received hand crocheted, knitted and sewn clothes. CASA-SHAW Executive Director Tracey Heisler stopped by to pick them up. She told us how much these will mean to the girls who receive them at Christmas.

"We gave an African-American doll to a bi-racial girl the other day," Heisler said. "It was so nice to be able to give her a doll that looked like her."

So you see, what you give does make a difference. Once again, thank you for all you have done and are doing for those in need this winter. We could not have met so many needs without your help.